Internetworking: an analysis and proposal

As the number of computer networks has grown, so has the desire for users on these networks to communicate with each other, thus the need for internetworking. Unfortunately, many of these networks were not designed with internetworking capabilities in mind. The internetworking facilities offered by a typical network range from non-existent to state of the art. Two major efforts towards internetworking are the DARPA Internet protocols and the OSI Internetworking protocols. The goals of this thesis are to acquaint the reader with the qualities which are desired in an internetworking scheme, to describe how internetworking is accomplished currently, and how these protocols might be modified to better suit the needs of the internetwork user. To this end, this thesis will develop the functional requirements for an ideal internetwork, describe two current methods for internetworking, and analyze these methods against the ideal internetwork. The advantages and disadvantages of each internetworking method will be discussed. After this analysis, suggestions will be made as to how these internetworking schemes could more closely resemble the ideal internetwork

Job desirability of the university professorate in the field of educational leadership

Journal ArticleThis survey research study uses job choice theory to assess recent educational leadership doctoral graduates' perceptions of the desirability of the educational administration professorate. Results reveal attractive and unattractive aspects of professorial work as well as those job attributes that are most strongly related to candidates' assessment of overall job desirability and job intentions

Lista de chequeo de las aves de Colombia: Una síntesis del estado del conocimiento desde Hilty & Brown

The taxonomy and knowledge of the distribution of Colombian avifauna has undergone great changes since the publication of “A Guide to the Birds of Colombia” by Hilty & Brown (1986) to the extent that we are unaware of how many and which species inhabit the Colombian territory. Here, we present a checklist of the birds of Colombia updated to August 2017 with a review of 340 references dealing with the distribution of Colombian birds. In sum, we report 1909 species for continental and insular Colombia, 216 of which have been added mainly since 1986. Although there are new data on distribution from 66% of the Colombian avifauna, most publications (87%) and new records (53%) are concentrated to the west of the Eastern cordillera (trans-Andean region). Based on the data we identify those regions of the country with knowledge gaps, which deserve more interest from researchers. Moreover, we encourage the ornithological community to publish their unpublished data and to improve the evidence supporting future new records for the country.La taxonomía y conocimiento de la distribución de la avifauna colombiana ha sufrido grandes cambios desde la publicación de “A Guide to the Birds of Colombia” por Hilty & Brown (1986), a tal punto que hoy no se sabe con precisión cuántas y cuáles especies de aves existen en el territorio colombiano. Presentamos la lista de chequeo de la avifauna de Colombia a agosto de 2017 con base en la revisión de 340 referencias relacionadas con la distribución de la avifauna colombiana. En total, reportamos 1909 especies de aves para el territorio continental e insular del país, de las cuales 216 han sido adicionadas principalmente a partir de 1986. Aunque existe información novedosa sobre distribución para cerca del 66% de la avifauna colombiana, la mayoría de las publicaciones (87%) y registros (53%) se concentran al occidente de la cordillera Oriental (región transandina). Con base en esta información identificamos aquellas áreas del país con vacíos de conocimiento que ameritan mayor interés por parte de los investigadores. Además, estimulamos a la comunidad ornitológica a publicar la información inédita represada, al igual que mejorar la evidencia que soporta los registros novedosos para el país

Genome-to-genome analysis highlights the effect of the human innate and adaptive immune systems on the hepatitis C virus

Outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and treatment depend on viral and host genetic factors. Here we use human genome-wide genotyping arrays and new whole-genome HCV viral sequencing technologies to perform a systematic genome-to-genome study of 542 individuals who were chronically infected with HCV, predominantly genotype 3. We show that both alleles of genes encoding human leukocyte antigen molecules and genes encoding components of the interferon lambda innate immune system drive viral polymorphism. Additionally, we show that IFNL4 genotypes determine HCV viral load through a mechanism dependent on a specific amino acid residue in the HCV NS5A protein. These findings highlight the interplay between the innate immune system and the viral genome in HCV control

Inhaled Nitric Oxide in preterm infants: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants requiring assisted ventilation are at significant risk of both pulmonary and cerebral injury. Inhaled Nitric Oxide, an effective therapy for pulmonary hypertension and hypoxic respiratory failure in the full term infant, has also been studied in preterm infants. The most recent Cochrane review of preterm infants includes 11 studies and 3,370 participants. The results show a statistically significant reduction in the combined outcome of death or chronic lung disease (CLD) in two studies with routine use of iNO in intubated preterm infants. However, uncertainty remains as a larger study (Kinsella 2006) showed no significant benefit for iNO for this combined outcome. Also, trials that included very ill infants do not demonstrate significant benefit. One trial of iNO treatment at a later postnatal age reported a decrease in the incidence of CLD. The aim of this individual patient meta-analysis is to confirm or refute these potentially conflicting results and to determine the extent to which patient or treatment characteristics may explain the results and/or may predict benefit from inhaled Nitric Oxide in preterm infants. METHODS/DESIGN: The Meta-Analysis of Preterm Patients on inhaled Nitric Oxide (MAPPiNO) Collaboration will perform an individual patient data meta-analysis to answer these important clinical questions. Studies will be included if preterm infants receiving assisted ventilation are randomized to receive inhaled Nitric Oxide or to a control group. The individual patient data provided by the Collaborators will be analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis where possible. Binary outcomes will be analyzed using log-binomial regression models and continuous outcomes will be analyzed using linear fixed effects models. Adjustments for trial differences will be made by including the trial variable in the model specification. DISCUSSION: Thirteen (13) trials, with a total of 3567 infants are eligible for inclusion in the MAPPiNO systematic review. To date 11 trials (n = 3298, 92% of available patients) have agreed to participate. Funding was successfully granted from Ikaria Inc as an unrestricted grant. A collaborative group was formed in 2006 with data collection commencing in 2007. It is anticipated that data analysis will commence in late 2009 with results being publicly available in 2010

Genetic architecture of heart mitochondrial proteome influencing cardiac hypertrophy.

Mitochondria play an important role in both normal heart function and disease etiology. We report analysis of common genetic variations contributing to mitochondrial and heart functions using an integrative proteomics approach in a panel of inbred mouse strains called the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel (HMDP). We performed a whole heart proteome study in the HMDP (72 strains, n=2-3 mice) and retrieved 848 mitochondrial proteins (quantified in ≥50 strains). High- resolution association mapping on their relative abundance levels revealed three trans-acting genetic loci on chromosomes (chr) 7, 13 and 17 that regulate distinct classes of mitochondrial proteins as well as cardiac hypertrophy. DAVID enrichment analyses of genes regulated by each of the loci revealed that the chr13 locus was highly enriched for complex-I proteins (24 proteins, P=2.2E-61), the chr17 locus for mitochondrial ribonucleoprotein complex (17 proteins, P=3.1E-25) and the chr7 locus for ubiquinone biosynthesis (3 proteins, P=6.9E-05). Follow-up high resolution regional mapping identified NDUFS4, LRPPRC and COQ7 as the candidate genes for chr13, chr17 and chr7 loci, respectively, and both experimental and statistical analyses supported their causal roles. Furthermore, a large cohort of Diversity Outbred mice was used to corroborate Lrpprc gene as a driver of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded gene regulation, and to show that the chr17 locus is specific to heart. Variations in all three loci were associated with heart mass in at least one of two independent heart stress models, namely, isoproterenol-induced heart failure and diet-induced obesity. These findings suggest that common variations in certain mitochondrial proteins can act in trans to influence tissue-specific mitochondrial functions and contribute to heart hypertrophy, eluci- dating mechanisms that may underlie genetic susceptibility to heart failure in human populations

Transfusion Volume for Children with Severe Anemia in Africa

BACKGROUND Severe anemia (hemoglobin level, <6 g per deciliter) is a leading cause of hospital admission and death in children in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization recommends transfusion of 20 ml of whole-blood equivalent per kilogram of body weight for anemia, regardless of hemoglobin level. METHODS In this factorial, open-label trial, we randomly assigned Ugandan and Malawian children 2 months to 12 years of age with a hemoglobin level of less than 6 g per deciliter and severity features (e.g., respiratory distress or reduced consciousness) to receive immediate blood transfusion with 20 ml per kilogram or 30 ml per kilogram. Three other randomized analyses investigated immediate as compared with no immediate transfusion, the administration of postdischarge micronutrients, and postdischarge prophylaxis with trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. RESULTS A total of 3196 eligible children (median age, 37 months; 2050 [64.1%] with malaria) were assigned to receive a transfusion of 30 ml per kilogram (1598 children) or 20 ml per kilogram (1598 children) and were followed for 180 days. A total of 1592 children (99.6%) in the higher-volume group and 1596 (99.9%) in the lower-volume group started transfusion (median, 1.2 hours after randomization). The mean (±SD) volume of total blood transfused per child was 475±385 ml and 353±348 ml, respectively; 197 children (12.3%) and 300 children (18.8%) in the respective groups received additional transfusions. Overall, 55 children (3.4%) in the higher-volume group and 72 (4.5%) in the lower-volume group died before 28 days (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 1.08; P=0.12 by log-rank test). This finding masked significant heterogeneity in 28-day mortality according to the presence or absence of fever (>37.5°C) at screening (P=0.001 after Sidak correction). Among the 1943 children (60.8%) without fever, mortality was lower with a transfusion volume of 30 ml per kilogram than with a volume of 20 ml per kilogram (hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.69). Among the 1253 children (39.2%) with fever, mortality was higher with 30 ml per kilogram than with 20 ml per kilogram (hazard ratio, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.49). There was no evidence of differences between the randomized groups in readmissions, serious adverse events, or hemoglobin recovery at 180 days. CONCLUSIONS Overall mortality did not differ between the two transfusion strategies. (Funded by the Medical Research Council and Department for International Development, United Kingdom; TRACT Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN84086586.

Immediate Transfusion in African Children with Uncomplicated Severe Anemia

Background The World Health Organization recommends not performing transfusions in African children hospitalized for uncomplicated severe anemia (hemoglobin level of 4 to 6 g per deciliter and no signs of clinical severity). However, high mortality and readmission rates suggest that less restrictive transfusion strategies might improve outcomes. Methods In this factorial, open-label, randomized, controlled trial, we assigned Ugandan and Malawian children 2 months to 12 years of age with uncomplicated severe anemia to immediate transfusion with 20 ml or 30 ml of whole-blood equivalent per kilogram of body weight, as determined in a second simultaneous randomization, or no immediate transfusion (control group), in which transfusion with 20 ml of whole-blood equivalent per kilogram was triggered by new signs of clinical severity or a drop in hemoglobin to below 4 g per deciliter. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Three other randomizations investigated transfusion volume, postdischarge supplementation with micronutrients, and postdischarge prophylaxis with trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. Results A total of 1565 children (median age, 26 months) underwent randomization, with 778 assigned to the immediate-transfusion group and 787 to the control group; 984 children (62.9%) had malaria. The children were followed for 180 days, and 71 (4.5%) were lost to follow-up. During the primary hospitalization, transfusion was performed in all the children in the immediate-transfusion group and in 386 (49.0%) in the control group (median time to transfusion, 1.3 hours vs. 24.9 hours after randomization). The mean (±SD) total blood volume transfused per child was 314±228 ml in the immediate-transfusion group and 142±224 ml in the control group. Death had occurred by 28 days in 7 children (0.9%) in the immediate-transfusion group and in 13 (1.7%) in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22 to 1.36; P=0.19) and by 180 days in 35 (4.5%) and 47 (6.0%), respectively (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.48 to 1.15), without evidence of interaction with other randomizations (P>0.20) or evidence of between-group differences in readmissions, serious adverse events, or hemoglobin recovery at 180 days. The mean length of hospital stay was 0.9 days longer in the control group. Conclusions There was no evidence of differences in clinical outcomes over 6 months between the children who received immediate transfusion and those who did not. The triggered-transfusion strategy in the control group resulted in lower blood use; however, the length of hospital stay was longer, and this strategy required clinical and hemoglobin monitoring

Segundo Congreso Salesiano de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad

La segunda edición del Congreso Salesiano de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS, realizado el 2 y 3 de diciembre de 2015 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (sede Guayaquil), ofreció un espacio idóneo para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones (nacionales e internacionales) a los docentes investigadores y a la comunidad universitaria en general. Los trabajos recogidos en estas Memorias Académicas pertenecen a diferentes líneas de investigación del área de la Ingeniería: Telecomunicaciones, Automatización y Control, Procesos Industriales, Sistemas Eléctricos de Potencia, Telemática e Informática Aplicada, áreas de interés en esta segunda edición del CITIS. Cabe destacar que se evidencia la preocupación por la dimensión humana y social mediante el desarrollo responsable de la ciencia y la tecnología. La realización de este Congreso ha puesto en evidencia la importancia y pertinencia de la actividad investigativa que se genera en las universidades (en proyectos desarrollados por los docentes investigadores e, incluso, por los estudiantes de grado y posgrado), así como los altos niveles de compromiso académico y social